MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked why the Grant towards the Road Improvement Fund for the county of Perth had been reduced this year from £12,000 to £2,500; and whether the rate of decrease was similar for other areas?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe estimated sum available for advances to highway authorities in Scotland up to 31st March, 1912, was £175,000, being the share of the Road Improvement Fund, which had been accumulating since April, 1909, allocated to Scotland. From this sum Grants amounting to £12,000 were made to the County Council of Perthshire. The Grant to Perthshire was a special one in view of the need of strengthening the trunk roads in the county without delay. The sum now available for distribution is the proportion allocated to Scotland of the estimated revenue for one year, 1912–13. The Grants to Scottish counties cannot therefore be on the same scale as last year, 1049 when nearly three years' revenue was available, nor can the Board repeat the special Grant to Perthshire without delaying Grants to proposed works in other districts. The amounts of the Grants to highway authorities are fixed after consideration of all the relevent circumstances affecting each area, and the rate of decrease varies accordingly.